Recording apparatus and recording method, reproducing apparatus and reproducing method, and recording medium

Abstract

File management information for managing logical sequence of files recorded in a recording medium is formed and stored in a file management information storing unit. Block management information which includes a file number for identifying a file, sequential order number indicative of the sequential order of the block storing data of the file and page length information indicative of the size of the data stored in the block is formed and stored in a block management information storing unit. Access to the file is ensured based on the block management information, even when the file management information indicative of the logical sequence of the files is lost by accident.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A recording apparatus for recording data of a file in a parallel manner in a recording medium having a plurality of recording medium chips by managing a recording area in said recording medium on a block basis, comprising:

parallel block forming means for forming at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of said file to be recorded in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner;

record controlling means for recording the data of said file in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner, wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded on one of the medium chips, wherein blocks in the parallel block are on separate medium chips, and wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded in parallel with the other predetermined blocks in the parallel block on other medium chips;

block link management storing means for storing block link management information concerning said parallel block in which the data of said file is recorded, and a block address of said parallel block is indicated in said block link management information with an unconstrained order for blocks of said parallel block; and

computing means for computing position information concerning the position of the data of said file based on said block link management information.

2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

block management information storing means for storing block management information including information for identifying said file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in said block; and

block link management information forming means for forming said block link management information based on said block management information.

3. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying said position information.

4. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said block link management information includes information indicative of the number of the block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

5. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said block link management information includes information concerning the sequential order within said parallel block of the block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

6. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising file link management information storing means for storing file link management information including information indicative of the size of said file;

wherein said computing means computes said position information concerning the data of said file based on said block link management information and said file link management information.

7. A recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising file link management information forming means for forming said file link management information based on said block management information.

8. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computing means determines said position information in terms of the position of said data of said file relative to the position of the leading end of the parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

9. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computing means determines said position information in terms of the position relative to the position of the leading end of said file in said parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

10. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computing means determines said position information in terms of the position of said file relative to the logical leading end of said recording medium.

11. A recording method for recording data of a file in a parallel manner in a recording medium having a plurality of recording medium chips by managing a recording area in said recording medium on a block basis, comprising:

parallel block forming step for forming at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of said file to be recorded in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner;

record controlling step for recording the data of said file in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner, wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded on one of the medium chips, wherein blocks in the parallel block are on separate medium chips, and wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded in parallel with the other predetermined blocks in the parallel block on other medium chips; and

computing step for computing position information concerning the position of the data of said file based on block link management information which includes information concerning the parallel block in which the data of said file is recorded, and a block address of said parallel block is indicated in said block link management information with an unconstrained order for blocks of said parallel block.

12. A recording method according to claim 11, further comprising:

a block link management information forming step for forming said block link management information based on block management information including information for identifying said file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in said block.

13. A recording method according to claim 11, further comprising a displaying step for displaying said position information.

14. A recording method according to claim 11, wherein said block link management information includes information indicative of the number of the block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

15. A recording method according to claim 11, wherein said block link management information includes information concerning the sequential order within said parallel block of the block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

16. A recording method according to claim 11, further comprising a file link management information storing step for storing file link management information including information indicative of the size of said file;

wherein said computing step computes said position information concerning the data of said file based on said block link management information and said file link management information.

17. A recording method according to claim 16, further comprising a file link management information forming step for forming said file link management information based on said block management information.

18. A recording method according to claim 11, wherein said computing step determines said position information in terms of the position of said data of said file relative to the position of the leading end of the parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

19. A recording method according to claim 11, wherein said computing step determines said position information in terms of the position relative to the position of the leading end of said file in said parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

20. A recording method according to claim 11, wherein said computing step determines said position information in terms of the position of said file relative to the logical leading end of said recording medium.

21. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing, by managing a recording area of a recording medium having a plurality of recording medium chips on a block basis, data of a file which has been stored in said recording medium in a parallel manner, wherein at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner, has been formed and said data of said file has been recorded in said parallel manner in units of the parallel block, said reproducing apparatus comprising:

block link management information storing means for storing block link management information concerning said parallel block in which the data of said file is recorded, and a block address of said parallel block is indicated in said block link management information with an unconstrained order for blocks of said parallel block;

reproduction controlling means for reproducing the data of said file in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner based on said block link management information, wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded on one of the medium chips, wherein blocks in the parallel block are on separate medium chips, and wherein each block in the parallel block is reproduced in parallel with the other predetermined blocks in the parallel block on other medium chips; and

computing means for computing, based on said block link management information, position information concerning the position of the data of said file which is being reproduced.

22. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

block management information storing means for storing block management information including information for identifying said file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in said block; and

block link management information forming means for forming said block link management information based on said block management information.

23. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising display means for displaying said position information.

24. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said block link management information includes information indicative of the number of block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

25. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said block link management information includes information concerning the sequential order within said parallel block of the block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

26. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising file link management information storing means for storing file link management information including information indicative of the size of said file;

wherein said computing means computes said position information concerning the data of said file based on said block link management information and said file link management information.

27. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising file link management information forming means for forming said file link management information based on said block management information.

28. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said computing means determines said position information in terms of the position of said data of said file relative to the position of the leading end of the parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

29. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said computing means determines said position information in terms of the position relative to the position of the leading end of said file in said parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

30. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said computing means determines said position information in terms of the position of said file relative to the logical leading end of said recording medium.

31. A reproducing method for reproducing, by managing a recording area of a recording medium having a plurality of recording medium chips on a block basis, data of a file which has been stored in said recording medium in a parallel manner, wherein at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner, has been formed and said data of said file has been recorded in said parallel manner in units of the parallel block, said reproducing method comprising:

reproducing controlling step for reproducing the data of said file in units of the parallel block in the parallel manner based on block link management information, wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded on one of the medium chips, wherein blocks in the parallel block are on separate medium chips, and wherein each block in the parallel block is reproduced in parallel with the other predetermined blocks in the parallel block on other medium chips, the block link management information including information concerning the parallel block in which the data of said file has been recorded, and a block address of said parallel block is indicated in said block link management information with an unconstrained order for blocks of said parallel block; and

computing step for computing, based on said block link management information, position information concerning the position of the data of said file which is being reproduced.

32. A reproducing method according to claim 31, further comprising:

block link management information forming step for forming said block link management information, based on block management information which includes information for identifying said file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in said block.

33. A reproducing method according to claim 31, further comprising displaying step for displaying said position information.

34. A reproducing method according to claim 31, wherein said block link management information includes information indicative of the number of block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

35. A reproducing method according to claim 31, wherein said block link management information includes information concerning the sequential order within said parallel block of the block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

36. A reproducing method according to claim 31, further comprising file link management information storing step for storing file link management information including information indicative of the size of said file;

wherein said computing step computes said position information concerning the data of said file based on said block link management information and said file link management information.

37. A reproducing method according to claim 36, further comprising file link management information forming step for forming said file link management information based on said block management information.

38. A reproducing method according to claim 31, wherein said computing step determines said position information in terms of the position of said data of said file relative to the position of the leading end of the parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

39. A reproducing method according to claim 31, wherein said computing step determines said position information in terms of the position relative to the position of the leading end of said file in said parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

40. A reproducing method according to claim 31, wherein said computing step determines said position information in terms of the position of said file relative to the logical leading end of said recording medium.

41. A recording medium having a recording area including a plurality of recording medium chips managed on a predetermined block basis to record data of a file in a parallel manner,

wherein at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of a file to be recorded in units of the parallel block in said recording area in the parallel manner, has been formed and said data of said file has been recorded in units of the parallel block in said parallel manner, wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded on one of the medium chips, wherein blocks in the parallel block are on separate medium chips, and wherein each block in the parallel block is recorded in parallel with the other predetermined blocks in the parallel block on other medium chips, and

position information concerning the position of the data of said file is computed, based on block link management information including information concerning the parallel block in which the data of said file is recorded, and a block address of said parallel block is indicated in said block link management information with an unconstrained order for blocks of said parallel block.

42. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said block link management information is formed based on block management information which includes information for identifying said file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in said block.

43. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said position information is displayed.

44. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said block link management information includes information indicative of the number of block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

45. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said block link management information includes information concerning the sequential order within said parallel block of the block or blocks in which the data of said file is recorded and which constitute said parallel block.

46. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said position information concerning the data of said file is computed also based on file link management information including information indicative of the size of said file.

47. A recording medium according to claim 46, wherein said file link management information is formed based on said block management information.

48. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said position information is determined in terms of the position of said data of said file relative to the position of the leading end of the parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

49. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said position information is determined in terms of the position relative to the position of the leading end of said file in said parallel block containing the block or blocks in which the data of said file is stored.

50. A recording medium according to claim 41, wherein said position information is determined in terms of the position of said file relative to the logical leading end of said recording medium.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and recording method, reproducing apparatus and reproducing method, and recording medium; and particularly relates to a recording apparatus and recording method, reproducing apparatus and reproducing method, and recording medium which are suitable for use in recording and/or reproducing data while managing the recording area of a recording medium on a predetermined block basis.

2. Description of the Related Art

The assignee of this application has already proposed a system which transfers data such as video, audio, character, computer program, and other likewise data, particularly digital data, from an information providing apparatus to portable user terminals equipped with a recording medium such as semiconductor memory, thereby providing various types of service, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-131371, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-215010, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-301601, etc., for example.

According to such a system, for example, the user can carry a user terminal, go to a location where an information providing apparatus is set up, receive audio data or the like from the information providing apparatus, receive the data in the recording medium, and reproduce the data with the user terminal thereby listening to music in this case. In other words, in this case, the user does not need to purchase a CD (compact disk) or magnetic tape with audio data recorded therein in order to be provided with the music. Also, in the event that the user grows tired of that piece of music, the user can be provided with audio data for a new piece of music, and listen to the new music.

Since portability is required for such user terminals, non-volatile memory such as flash memory which is capable of holding data even without back-up of a battery or the like, is preferably used for the recording medium.

However, flash memory has a problem in that the program time necessary for writing input data into the flash memory is relatively longer in comparison to the data input time necessary for inputting the data therein, so in the event that the amount of data to be written is greater than the amount of data which can be input to the flash memory at once, a wait time consisting only of program time occurs between completion of input of data to the flash memory to input of the next data. Allowing such a wait time to occur means that more time is required for providing data to each user. On the other hand, the information providing apparatuses are used by a great number of users, so required a greater amount of time for each user results in making the other users wait, consequently resulting in fewer users being able to receive the service.

Accordingly, the present assignee has already proposed a recording method wherein a plurality of flash memory chips are used, and data is written thereto in a parallel manner, thereby reducing the amount of time required to write the data (hereafter referred to as the "parallel recording method").

The parallel recording method is an arrangement wherein, for example, data is input to one chip of a plurality of pieces of flash memory, and when that input is completed, the next data is input to another chip, and when that input is completed, the next data is input to yet another chip, and so on. That is to say, while the data input to one chip is being written thereto, the next data is being input to another chip, thereby allowing the next data to be input without waiting for the program time of the first chip, thereby reducing the amount of time necessary for writing data.

Now, data is written to and read from flash memory in units called pages, and data is deleted therefrom in units of blocks, which are comprised of several pages. Thus, the pages are finer units than blocks.

Accordingly, with the parallel recording method, data is managed in units of blocks, to enable efficient writing, deleting, and so forth. More specifically, block management information for managing each of blocks is formed for each of the blocks, and each block is managed based on its peculiar block management information.

Similarly, the parallel recording technique employs file management information which is formed for each of the files. Each file is managed based on the associated file management information.

In the above-described parallel recording technique proposed by the present assignee, the block management information lacks any information concerning the file of the data stored in the block managed by the block management information. In other words, information concerning the file is contained only in the file managing information. This poses a risk that the access to the file is impeded in the event of destruction of the file managing information due to, for example, accidental drop of the voltage of the electric power supplied to the apparatus, even if the date of the file and the block management information managing the block storing the data are alive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in light of the above state, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to ensure accessibility to files even when file management information is destructed.

To these ends, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording data in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: file management information storing means for storing file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium; block management information storing means for storing block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and record controlling means for recording a file in the recording medium and for forming the file administration information and the block management information concerning the file.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording method for recording data in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: a file management information storing step for storing file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium; a block management information storing step for storing block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and a record controlling step for recording a file in the recording medium and for forming the file administration information and the block management information concerning the file.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: file management information storing means for storing file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of the files stored in the recording medium; block management information storing means for storing block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and reproduction controlling means for reproducing one of the recorded files based on the file administration information and the block management information concerning the file.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing method for reproducing data from a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: reproducing the file containing the data, based both on file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium and block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequence of the blocks in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the blocks.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having a recording area for recording data of files, the recording area being managed on a predetermined block basis, wherein access to each of the files is managed based both on file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium and block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequence of the blocks in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the blocks.

The invention in its sixth aspect provides a recording apparatus for recording data of files in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: block management information storing means for storing block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; record controlling means for recording a file in the recording medium and for forming the block management information concerning the file; and block link management information forming means for forming, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

The present invention in its seventh aspect provides a recording method for recording data of files in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: a record controlling step for recording a file in the recording medium, and forming block management information including information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of the file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and block link management information forming step for forming, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

The present invention in its eighth aspect provides a reproducing apparatus for reproducing data of a file from a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: block management information storing means for storing block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; block link management information forming means for forming, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded; and reproduction controlling means for reproducing the file based on the block management information and the block link management information.

The present invention in its ninth aspect provides a reproducing method for reproducing data of a file from a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: block link management information forming step for forming block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded, based on block management information which includes information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of the file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and reproduction controlling step for reproducing the file based on the block management information and the block link management information.

In accordance with a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having a recording area managed on a predetermined block basis, for recording data of a file, wherein block link management information is formed to include link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded, based on block management information which includes information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of the file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and wherein access to the file is managed based on the block management information and the block link management information.

In accordance with an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording data of a file in a parallel manner in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: parallel block forming means for forming at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner; record controlling means for recording the data of the file in the parallel manner in the block or blocks constituting the parallel block; block link management storing means for storing block link management information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded; and computing means for computing position information concerning the position of the data of the file based on the block link management information.

In accordance with twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording method for recording data of a file in a parallel manner in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: parallel block forming step for forming at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner; record controlling step for recording the data of the file in the parallel manner in the block or blocks constituting the parallel block; and computing step for computing position information concerning the position of the data of the file based on block link management information which includes information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

In accordance with a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus for reproducing, by managing the recording area of a recording medium on a block basis, data which has been stored in the recording medium in a parallel manner, wherein at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of a file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner, has been formed and the data of the file has been recorded in the parallel manner in the bock or blocks constituting the parallel block, the reproducing apparatus comprising; block link management information storing means for storing block link management information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded; reproduction controlling means for reproducing the data of the file based on the block link management information; and computing means for computing, based on the block link management information, position information concerning the position of the data of the file which is being reproduced.

In accordance with a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing method for reproducing, by managing the recording area of a recording medium on a block basis, data which has been stored in the recording medium in a parallel manner, wherein at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of a file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner, has been formed and the data of the file has been recorded in the parallel manner in the bock or blocks constituting the parallel block, the reproducing method comprising: reproduction controlling step for reproducing the data of the file based on block link management information which includes information concerning the parallel block constituted by block or blocks in which the data of the file has been recorded; and computing step for computing, based on the block link management information, position information concerning the position of the data of the file which is being reproduced.

In accordance with a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having a recording area managed on a predetermined block basis to record data of a file in a parallel manner, wherein at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of a file to be recorded in at least one block in the recording area in the parallel manner, has been formed and the data of the file has been recorded in the parallel manner in the bock or blocks constituting the parallel block, and position information concerning the position of the data of the file is computed, based on block link management information including information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

Thus, in the recording apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the file management information storing means stores file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium, and the block management information storing means stores block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block. The record controlling means serves to record a file in the recording medium and for forming the file administration information and the block management information concerning the file.

In the recording method in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, steps are employed for forming file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium, and for forming block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block.

In the reproducing apparatus in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the file management information storing means stores file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of the files stored in the recording medium, while the block management information storing means stores block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block. The reproducing apparatus also comprises the reproduction controlling means which reproduces one of the recorded files based on the file administration information and the block management information concerning the file.

In the reproducing method in accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, a file is reproduced based both on file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium and block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequence of the blocks in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the blocks.

In the recording medium in accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, access to each of the files is managed based both on file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium and block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequence of the blocks in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the blocks.

In the recording apparatus of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the block management information storing means stores block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block, while the record controlling means serves to record a file in the recording medium and forms the block management information concerning the file. The block link management information forming means forms, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

The recording method in accordance with the seventh aspect employs, in addition to the step of recording a file in the recording medium, the steps of forming block management information including information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of the file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block, and forming, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

In the reproducing apparatus of the eighth aspect of the present invention, the block management information storing means stores block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block. The block link management information forming means forms, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded. The reproduction controlling means reproduces the file based on the block management information and the block link management information.

In the reproducing method in accordance with the ninth aspect, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded is formed based on block management information which includes information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of the file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block. Reproduction of the file is performed based on the block management information and the block link management information.

In the recording medium in accordance with the tenth aspect, block link management information is formed to include link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded, based on block management information which includes information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of the file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block. Access to the file is managed based on the block management information and the block link management information.

In the recording apparatus in accordance with the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the parallel block forming means forms at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner. The record controlling means records the data of the file in the parallel manner in the block or blocks constituting the parallel block. The block link management storing means stores block link management information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded. The computing means computes position information concerning the position of the data of the file based on the block link management information.

In the recording method in accordance with the twelfth aspect of the present invention, parallel block forming step forms at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner. The record controlling step records the data of the file in the parallel manner in the block or blocks constituting the parallel block. The computing computes position information concerning the position of the data of the file, based on block link management information which includes information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

In the reproducing apparatus in accordance with the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the block link management information storing means stores block link management information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded. The reproduction controlling means reproduces the data of the file based on the block link management information. The computing means computes, based on the block link management information, position information concerning the position of the data of the file which is being reproduced.

In the reproducing method in accordance with the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the data of a file is reproduced based on block link management information which includes information concerning the parallel block constituted by block or blocks in which the data of the file has been recorded. The position information concerning the position of the data of the file which is being reproduced is computed based on the block link management information.

In the recording medium in accordance with the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of a file to be recorded in at least one block in the recording area in the parallel manner, has been formed and the data of the file has been recorded in the parallel manner in the bock or blocks constituting the parallel block. Position information concerning the position of the data of the file is computed, based on block link management information including information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the recording state of a recording medium 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the file management information and block management information for a case wherein data has been written according to the parallel recording method proposed previously by the present assignee;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing the increase in speed in writing data, according to the parallel recording method proposed previously by the present assignee;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing structures of new file management information and block management information;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing structures of file link management information and block link management information.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the external configuration of a first embodiment of a user terminal to which the present invention has been applied;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the external configuration of a second embodiment of a user terminal to which the present invention has been applied;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the external configuration of a first embodiment of an information providing apparatus which provides data to user terminals;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the external configuration of a second embodiment of an information providing apparatus which provides data to user terminals;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the electrical configuration of the user terminal shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of flash memory;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrative of an auxiliary-information creating process;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrative of a writing process;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrative of a free block securing processing performed in step S24 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrative of a deleting processing; and

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrative of a reading processing;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrative of a fast-reproduction control processing;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrative of a reverse-reproduction control processing: and

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrative of a time display processing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, preceded by a description in which, in order to clarify the correlation between various means which are elements of the claimed invention and the practical forms employed in the embodiment, practical forms are mentioned in parenthesis which follow the descriptions of means and features of the claimed invention. It is to be understood, however, such practical forms are shown by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording data in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: file management information storing means (for example, a file management information storing unit 2 shown in FIG. 10) for storing file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of files stored in the recording medium; block management information storing means (for example, a block management information storing unit 3 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and record controlling means (for example, a recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10)for recording a file in the recording medium and for forming the file administration information and the block management information concerning the file.

The recording apparatus may further comprise parallel block forming means (for example, Step S25 of the program shown in FIG. 13) for forming at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in at least one block in parallel; wherein the record controlling means records the data of the file in a parallel manner in the block or blocks constituting the parallel block.

The recording apparatus may further comprise changing means (for example, a recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for changing the logical sequence of the files recorded in the recording medium by changing the sequence of the file management information concerning the files stored in the file management information storing means.

The recording apparatus may further comprise erasure means (for example, a recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for erasing the file recorded in the recording medium.

The recording apparatus may further comprise supplying means (for example, a transfer unit 41 shown in FIG. 10) for supplying the record controlling means with the file furnished by an external device.

The reproducing apparatus in accordance with the third aspect comprises: file management information storing means (for example, the file management information storing unit 2 shown in FIG. 10) for storing file management information for managing logical sequential order of each of the files stored in the recording medium; block management information storing means (for example, the block management information storing unit 3 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and reproduction controlling means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for reproducing one of the recorded files based on the file administration information and the block management information concerning the file.

The reproducing apparatus may further comprise changing means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for changing the logical sequence of the files recorded in the recording medium by changing the sequence of the file management information concerning the files stored in the file management information storing means.

The reproducing apparatus may also comprise erasure means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for erasing the file recorded in the recording medium.

The reproducing apparatus may also comprise supplying means (for example, the transfer control unit 41 and a reproduction control unit 43 shown in FIG. 10) for supplying an external device with the data of the file reproduced by the reproduction controlling means.

In accordance with the sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording data of files in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: block management information storing means (for example, the block management information storing unit 3 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block management information including information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; record controlling means (for example, recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for recording a file in the recording medium and for forming the block management information concerning the file; and block link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

The recording apparatus may further comprise parallel block forming means (for example, the Step S25 of the program shown in FIG. 13) for forming at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in at least one block in parallel. In this case, the record controlling means serves to record the data of the file in a parallel manner in the block or blocks constituting the parallel block.

The recording apparatus may further comprise file link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming, based on the block management information, file link management information which includes information indicative the size of the file and information serving as a pointer for enabling access to the block management information and the block link management information concerning the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

The recording apparatus also may further comprise file management information storing means (for example, the file management information storing unit 2 shown in FIG. 10) for storing file management information for enabling management of logical sequence of the files stored in the recording medium.

The recording apparatus also may further comprise supplying means (for example, the transfer control unit 41 shown in FIG. 10) for supplying the record controlling means with the file furnished by an external device.

In accordance with the eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus for reproducing data of a file from a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: block management information storing means (for example, the block management information storing unit 3 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block management information which includes information for identifying each of the files, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; block link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming, based on the block management information, block link management information including link information indicative of the state of linkage between the blocks in which the data of the file is recorded; and reproduction controlling means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for reproducing the file based on the block management information and the block link management information.

The reproducing apparatus may further comprising file link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming, based on the block management information, file link management information which includes information indicative the size of the file and information serving as a pointer for enabling access to the block management information and the block link management information concerning the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded.

The reproducing apparatus also may further comprise file management information storing means (for example, the file management information storing unit 2 shown in FIG. 10) for storing file management information for enabling management of logical sequence of the files stored in the recording medium.

In accordance with the eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording data of a file in a parallel manner in a recording medium by managing a recording area in the recording medium on a block basis, comprising: parallel block forming means (for example, the Step S25 of the program shown in FIG. 13) for forming at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of the file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner; record controlling means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for recording the data of the file in the parallel manner in the block or blocks constituting the parallel block; block link management storing means (for example, a block link management information storing unit 5 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block link management information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded; and computing means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for computing position information concerning the position of the data of the file based on the block link management information.

The recording apparatus may further comprise: block management information storing means (for example, the block management information storing unit 3 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block management information including information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and block link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming the block link management information based on the block management information.

The recording apparatus may further comprise display means (for example, the display unit 12 shown in FIG. 10) for displaying the position information.

The recording apparatus may further comprise file link management information storing means (for example, a file link management information storing unit 4 shown in FIG. 10) for storing file link management information including information indicative of the size of the file. In this case, the computing means computes the position information concerning the data of the file based on the block link management information and the file link management information.

In this case, the recording apparatus may further comprise file link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming the file link management information based on the block management information.

In accordance with the thirteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus for reproducing, by managing the recording area of a recording medium on a block basis, data which has been stored in the recording medium in a parallel manner, wherein at least one parallel block constituted by at least one block, for enabling the data of a file to be recorded in at least one block in the parallel manner, has been formed and the data of the file has been recorded in the parallel manner in the bock or blocks constituting the parallel block, the reproducing apparatus comprising: block link management information storing means (for example, the block link management information storing unit 5 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block link management information concerning the parallel block constituted by the block or blocks in which the data of the file is recorded; reproduction controlling means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for reproducing the data of the file based on the block link management information; and computing means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for computing, based on the block link management information, position information concerning the position of the data of the file which is being reproduced.

The reproducing apparatus may further comprise: block management information storing means (for example, the block management information storing unit 3 shown in FIG. 10) for storing block management information including information for identifying the file, information indicative of the logical sequential order of the block in which the data of each file is recorded, and information indicative of the size of the data recorded in the block; and block link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming the block link management information based on the block management information.

The reproducing apparatus may also further comprise display means (for example, the display unit 12 shown in FIG. 10) for displaying the position information.

The reproducing apparatus may also further comprise file link management information storing means (for example, the file link management information storing unit 4 shown in FIG. 10) for storing file link management information including information indicative of the size of the file. In this case, the computing means computes the position information concerning the data of the file based on the block link management information and the file link management information.

In this case, the reproducing apparatus may further comprise file link management information forming means (for example, the recording medium control unit 42 shown in FIG. 10) for forming the file link management information based on the block management information.

It is to be understood that the units and steps mentioned in the foregoing description of the features of the invention are only illustrative and are not to be understood in a restricting sense.

A description will now be made regarding the parallel recording method to which the present invention is applied. The details of this parallel recording method have already been disclosed in detail in the applications already filed by the present assignee, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-200181 and Japanese Patent Application No. 9-109784, so the details thereof will be described here in brief. Also, the description in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-200181 and Japanese Patent Application No. 9-109784 involves a recording medium wherein writing is performed in units called "pages", and deleting is performed in units called "blocks", which are larger units than pages, but the scope of application of the present invention is by no means restricted to such a recording medium. Namely, the present invention can be used for recording mediums whose recording areas are managed on a predetermined unit, e.g., on a predetermined block basis. Thus, the parallel recording method is nothing more than an example of the recording method to which the invention is applicable, and the invention can also be applied to recording method other than the parallel recording method.

FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a recording medium on which data is written with the parallel recording method.

With the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the recording medium 1 is configured of four recording medium pieces, 1A through 1D. While each of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D is equivalent to one memory chip in a basic arrangement, different arrangements may be made wherein the recording area of one recording medium is divided into four recording areas, with each of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D corresponding to the four recording areas, for example.

For example, the recording medium piece 1A is configured of 16 pages, with each page consisting of 512 bytes. Also, according to the present embodiment, four pages make up one block, so the recording medium piece 1A is configured of four blocks (i.e., 16/4). The other recording medium pieces 1B through 1D are also configured in the same manner.

Now, with the present embodiment, physical addresses on the recording medium 1 are represented as follows.

Here, a physical address is represented using three units, chip No. "c", block No. "b", and page No. "p". The chip no. c is for specifying the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D, with the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D being represented by C[0] through C[3], respectively.

The block No. b is for specifying the blocks in each of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D; e.g., the first through the fourth blocks from the bottom in each of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D are respectively represented by B[0] through B[3], for example. Also, the lowest block in the recording medium piece 1A is represented as CB [0:0], using the chip No. c and block No. b. The second from the lowest block in the recording medium piece 1A is represented as CB [0:1], the third from the lowest block in the recording medium piece 1A is represented as CB [0:2], and the highest block is represented as CB [0:3]. In the same way, the first through fourth blocks from the bottom in the recording medium piece 1B are respectively represented as CB [1:0] through CB [1:3], the first through fourth blocks from the bottom in the recording medium piece 1C are respectively represented as CB [2:0] through CB [2:3], and the first through fourth blocks from the bottom in the recording medium piece 1D are respectively represented as CB [3:0] through CB [3:3].

The page no. p is for specifying the pages in each block, the first through the fourth pages from the bottom in each of the blocks respectively represented by P[0] through P[3]. Also, the lowest page in the lowest block in the recording medium piece 1A is represented as CBP [0:0:0], using the chip No. c, block No. b, and page No. p. The second from the lowest page in the lowest block in the recording medium piece 1A is represented as CBP [0:0:1], the third from the lowest page is represented as CBP [0:0:2], and the top page is represented as CBP [0:0:03]. The pages in the other blocks in the recording medium piece 1A, and the pages in the blocks in the recording medium pieces 1B through 1D, are represented in the same manner.

Accordingly, expressing the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D as chips No. 1 through No. 4, the "p"th page from the bottom in the "b"th block from the bottom in the "c"th chip is represented as CBP [c-1:b-1:p-1].

Now, in the present description, one page is defined as being 512 bytes, and the reason is that the size of one page has been set to the same as the capacity of one sector, which is 512 bytes, in order to facilitate ease of correlation with the FAT (File Allocation Table) file system and so forth. It should be noted, however, that the capacity of one page is not restricted to this arrangement.

In FIG. 1, FS [f:s] which is described in the pages of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D represents the data of files recorded in the recording medium 1, with "f" representing the file No. for specifying the file, and "s" representing the sector No. for specifying the sector. Accordingly, in FIG. 1, data FS [2:12] specified by file No. 2 and sector no. 12, is recorded to the topmost page (i.e., the page with the physical address CBP [0:3:3]) of the recording medium piece 1A, for example. Also, data FS [0:2] specified by file No. 0 and sector no. 2, is recorded to the bottommost page (i.e., the page with the physical address CBP [3:0:0]) of the recording medium piece 1D, for example.

Also, in FIG. 1, the hatched areas (blocks) indicate areas to which data cannot be written at that point (including cases wherein writing is forbidden). In other words, the hatched portions represent blocks which are damaged either from the time of manufacturing or due to excessive rewriting (hereafter also referred to as "invalid blocks"), or blocks which are secured for system area or spare area (hereafter also referred to as "system blocks").

The data recording in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 1 is managed in units of files and units of blocks, i.e., on a block basis, as shown in FIG. 2.

That is to say, FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration example of a file management information storing unit 2 for storing file management information for managing data recorded on the recording medium 1 in units of files, and a block management information storing unit 3 for storing block management information for managing data in units of blocks.

In FIG. 2, the file management information storing unit 2 has an entry corresponding with eight physical addresses, M[0] through M[7]. The basic arrangement is such that file management information relating to one file can be stored in one entry, so with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, file management information relating to up to eight files can be stored (recorded). However, it should be noted that the configuration of the file management information storing unit 2 is by no means restricted to storing file management information relating to for up to eight files; rather, various arrangements may be made wherein the file management information storing unit 2 is capable of storing a different number of pieces of file management information.

The file management information comprises file identification information for specifying (recognizing) the file (e.g., file name), the file size of that file, and a pointer to the entry of block management information stored in the block management information storing unit 3 (i.e., the start entry). With the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the file name is F[n] (wherein n is a file No. corresponding with the file, for example), the file size is the number of sectors (equal to the number of pages in the present embodiment), and the pointer to the entry is the physical address T[c:b] in the block management information storing unit 3 that is represented using the chip No. c and the block No. b.

Now, in the file management information, the pointer to the entry points the entry of the block management information which manages the block storing the beginning or leading end of the file corresponding to the file managed by the file management information, and will hereafter also be referred to as "start entry".

The following can be recognized, according to the file management information stored in the file management information storing unit 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

Firstly, three files specified with the file names F[0] through F[2] are recorded on the recording medium 1, with the logical order thereof being F[1], F[2], F[0]. Secondly, the sizes of the files F[0] through F[2] are sized equivalent to 12 sectors (pages), 23 sectors, and 13 sectors, respectively. Thirdly, in the recording medium 1, the beginning blocks storing the files F[0] through F[2] are the blocks CB[1:0], CB[1:1], CB[0:3] which correspond to the entries in the block management information storing unit 3, represented respectively with physical addresses of T[1:0], T[1:1], and T[0:3].

Incidentally, in the file management information storing unit 2 (and in the block management information storing unit 3 as well), the portions described with a hyphen (-) indicate invalid file management information (that there is no valid file management information).

Next, the block management information storing unit 3 has entries corresponding to the blocks of the recording medium 1 (FIG. 1), i.e., a total of 16 blocks comprised of the four blocks each of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D, and block management information of each corresponding block is stored in each entry.

Now, the physical addressees of the entries making up the block management information storing unit 3 are represented as T[c:b], using the chip No. c of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D having the block corresponding with the entry, and the block No. b of the corresponding block. Accordingly, in the block management information storing unit 3, the entry represented with a physical address T[c:b] stores (has been recorded with) block management information regarding a block CB[c:b] with a chip No. of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D of c, and a block No. b.

More specifically, for example, an entry represented with a physical address of T[0:0] stores block management information regarding the lowest block (B[0]) in the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]). Also, an entry represented with a physical address of T[0:1] stores block management information regarding the block second from the bottom (B[1]) in the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]). Further, an entry represented with a physical address of T[0:2] stores block management information regarding the block third from the bottom (B[2]) in the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]), and an entry represented with a physical address of T[0:3] stores block management information regarding the fourth block from the bottom, which is the top block (B[3]) in the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]). In the same way, each entry stores block management information regarding corresponding blocks, so the highest entry in the block management information storing unit 3, i.e., an entry represented with a physical address of T[3:3] stores block management information regarding the top block (B[3]) in the recording medium piece 1D (C[3]).

Incidentally, a table comprised of all of the block management information in the block management information storing unit 3 is called a BAT (Block Allocation Table), and the entries of the block management information storing unit 3 making up the BAT are referred to as "BAT entries".

The block management information for each BAT entry is made up of necessary status flags, link information, etc.

Six status flags have been provided here; the invalid flag, system flag, first flag, next flag, last flag, and loop flag. The invalid flag indicates that the corresponding block is an invalid block. The system flag indicates that the corresponding block is a system block. The first or last flag indicates that the corresponding block is a block wherein the beginning or ending of a file is recorded, and the next flag indicates that data continuing from the data recorded in the corresponding block exists (i.e., that there is data continuing from the data recorded in the corresponding block recorded in another block). The loop flag indicates that the last of the data making up the later-described parallel block is recorded in the corresponding block (i.e., that the corresponding block is the last block making up the parallel block). The loop flag indicates that the block carrying this flag is the last one of the blocks constituting the parallel block.

In FIG. 2, the invalid flag, system flag, loop flag, first flag, next flag, and last flag, have been appropriated to the first through 6th bits of the block management information. Also, in FIG. 2, the numeric values 0 and 1 indicating status flags represent whether or not the status flag has been raised (here, for example, a value of 1 indicates that the status flag has been raised).

Now, in the event that a block is not indicated in the block management information by any of a first flag, next flag, or last flag (i.e., all are 0), this indicates that the corresponding block can be written to (i.e., an available block, which includes cases wherein some sort of data has been written to that block but can be written over). Accordingly, available blocks can be detected by making reference to the first flag, next flag, and last flag.

The link information (next entry) represents the linkage state between the blocks configuring the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D. That is, the physical address of the BAT entry corresponding to the block where the data continuing from the data recorded in a certain block is recorded, is used as the link information. Accordingly, the link information is recorded in the event that a block exists to which the data continuing from the data recording in the block corresponding to the BAT entry recording the link information is recorded, so this is recorded along either the first flag or next flag (i.e., the link information is recorded in the event that either the first flag or next flag is set to 1).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the physical address [2:0] of the BAT entry corresponding to the block CB[2:0] is written as link information to the BAT entry T[1:0] corresponding to the block CB[1:0]. Also, the physical address [3:0] of the BAT entry corresponding to the block CB[3:0] is written as link information to the BAT entry T[2:0].

Further, a first flag, next flag, and last flag are respectively stored as status flags for the BAT entries T[1:0], T[2:0], and T[3:0] (i.e., the values thereof are set to 1), and the continuous data of a file is recorded in a parallel manner in the blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0], and CB[3:0] in that order. Further, the beginning or end data of the file is recorded in the block CB[1:0] or CB[3:0], so it can be understood that the data comprised of these three blocks consist of one file.

Also, in FIG. 2, the pointer to the BAT entry T[1:0] wherein the first flag is stored, is stored in the entry M[2] in the file management information storing unit 2, and accordingly, the file comprised of the data stored in the blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0], and CB[3:0] is managed as a third file F[0] in the file management information storing unit 2.

According to file management information and block management information such as described above, the recorded state of a file in the recording medium 1 can be recognized as follows.

That is, taking note of file F[1], the logical order of the file F[1] is recorded as the 1st in order by the file management information, and further, it can be recognized that the size thereof is 23 sectors worth. Further, regarding the file F[1], the state of recording in the recording medium 1 can be recognized by making reference to the block management information recorded in the BAT entry group linked from the BAT entry T[1:1].

Then, T[2:2] is recorded to the BAT entry T[1:1] as link information, so it can be understood that the BAT entry T[1:1] is linked to the BAT entry T[2:2]. Further, T[3:1] is recorded to the BAT entry T[2:2] as link information, T[0:1] is recorded to the BAT entry T[3:1] as link information, T[1:2] is recorded to the BAT entry T[0:1] as link information, T[3:2] is recorded to the BAT entry T[1:2] as link information, so it can be understood that the linkage is in the order to BAT entry T[1:1], T[2:2], T[3:1], T[0:1], T[1:2], and T[3:2], and accordingly, the data of the file F[1] is recorded in the order of block CB[1:1], CB[2:2], CB[3:1], CB[0:1], CB[1:2], and CB[3:2].

Further, a first flag is recorded to the BAT entry T[1:1], so it can be understood that the beginning data of the file F[1] is recorded to the block CB[1:1] corresponding to the BAT entry T[1:1]. Also, a next flag is recorded for the BAT entry T[2:2] linked to the BAT entry T[1:1], a next flag is recorded for the BAT entry T[3:1] linked thereto, and a next flag and loop flag are recorded for the BAT entry T[0:1] linked thereto. Accordingly, it can be understood that the data of the file F[1] is recorded in a parallel manner to the blocks CB[1:1], CB[2:2], CB[3:1], and CB[0:1], respectively corresponding to the BAT entries T[1:1], T[2:2], T[3:1], and T[0:1], i.e., that the four blocks CB[1:1], CB[2:2], CB[3:1], and CB[0:1] comprise a parallel block.

Also, a next flag is recorded for the BAT entry T[1:2] linked to the BAT entry T[0:1], and a last flag is recorded to the BAT entry T[3:2] linked thereto, so the data of the file F[1] is also recorded in a parallel manner in the blocks CB[1:2] and CB[3:2]corresponding to the BAT entries T[1:2]and T[3:2]. That is, it can be understood that the two blocks CB[1:2] and CB[3:2] comprise a parallel block. Further, it can be understood that the last data of the file F[1] is recorded in the block CB[3:2] corresponding to the BAT entry T[3:2] where the last flag is recorded.

Accordingly, though not described above, in the event that the physical address of a BAT entry is recorded along with a first flag, this not only indicates that there is the beginning data of the file recorded in the block corresponding to the BAT entry where the first flag is recorded, but also indicates that there is subsequent data. Also, a last flag not only indicates that there is the last data of the file recorded in the block corresponding to the BAT entry where the last flag is recorded, but also indicates that the block is the last block in the parallel block.

As described above, of the file management information, the start entry indicates the BAT entry storing the block management information for managing the block where the beginning data of the file managed by the file management information is recorded. Then, following the block management information with reference to the link information contained therein allows the block wherein the file is recorded to be recognized. Next, with the parallel recording method, first, one block each is selected from one or more of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D (basically, a plurality), and these blocks comprise one parallel block. That is, parallel blocks which are the unit for recording data in a parallel manner are thus formed.

Now, in order to simplify the description, let us say that one block is selected from each of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D, e.g., the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D shown in FIG. 1, and that blocks CB[0:1], CB[1:1], CB[2:2], and CB[3:1], for example are extracted, thereby forming a parallel block with these four blocks. Then, data is written in a parallel manner, to the object comprised of the blocks CB[0:1], CB[1:1], CB[2:2], and CB[3:1] making up the parallel block.

More specifically, assuming that the file to be recorded is the file F[1], the No. 1 sector (first sector) FS[1:0] of the file F[1] is written into, for example, the recording medium piece 1B, more particularly in the block CB[1:1] constituting the parallel block (see FIG. 1). The writing of data into the recording medium 1 is performed on page basis, as described before. Therefore, the first sector FS[1:0] is written in the bottom or lowest page, i.e., in the page CBP[1:1:0], of the block CB[1:1].

After the No. 1 sector F[1:0] of the file F[1] is input to the recording medium piece 1B, the subsequent No. 2 sector FS[1:1] (second sector) thereof is input to the recording medium piece 1C, for example, and is written to the block CB[2:2] therein making up the parallel block (FIG. 1). Incidentally, as described above, the No. 2 sector FS[1:1] is written to the lowest page in the block CB[2:2] for example, i.e., the page CBP[2:2:0].

After the No. 2 sector FS[1:1] of the file F[1] is input to the recording medium piece 1C, the subsequent No. 3 sector FS[1:2] thereof is input to the recording medium piece 1D, for example, and is written to the block CB[3:1] therein making up the parallel block (FIG. 1). Incidentally, in this case also, the No. 3 sector FS[1:2] is written to the lowest page in the block CB[3:1] for example, i.e., the page CBP[3:1:0].

After the No. 3 sector FS[1:2] of the file F[1] is input to the recording medium piece 1D, the subsequent No. 4 sector FS[1:3] thereof is input to the recording medium piece 1A, for example, and is written to the block CB[0:1] therein making up the parallel block (FIG. 1). In this case also, the No. 4 sector FS[1:3] is written to the lowest page in the block CB[0:1] for example, i.e., the page CBP[0:1:0].

After the No. 4 sector F[1:3] of the file F[1] is input to the recording medium piece 1A, the subsequent No. 5 sector FS[1:4] thereof is input to the recording medium piece 1B again, and is written to the block CB[1:1] therein making up the parallel block (FIG. 1). Incidentally, in this case, the No. 5 sector FS[1:4] is written to the second lowest page in the block CB[1:1], i.e., the page CBP[1:1:1], because the first sector FS[1:0] has been already stored in the lowest page CBP[1:1:0] of the block CB[1:1].

Subsequently, in the same manner, the file F[1] is written in units of pages to the blocks CB[0:1], CB[1:1], CB[2:2], and CB[3:1] making up the parallel block, in an interleaved manner. Incidentally, in the event that the amount of data in the file F[1] exceeds four blocks worth, first, the writing to the blocks CB[0:1], CB[1:1], CB[2:2], and CB[3:1] is completed, following which the remaining data (remaining sectors) is written to a parallel block comprised of other blocks.

According to such a parallel recording method, the waiting time which occurs in the event that the recording medium 1 is comprised of flash memory or the like which has relatively long program time as compared to the data input time as described above, can be done away with or at least reduced.

For example, let us represent the data input time for the recording medium pieces 1A through ID as t.sub.input, and the program time thereof as t.sub.prog. In the example that data is to be written to only the recording medium piece 1A, for example, of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D without interleaving, as shown in FIG. 3A, the No. 1 sector is input to the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]) at time t0 followed by the data input time t.sub.input elapsing, thereby completing the input at the time t1. Subsequently, the writing of the No. 1 sector for which input has been completed is initiated, and the writing is completed at a time t4' following elapsing of the program time t.sub.prog. Then, input of the No. 2 sector to the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]) is initiated, thus writing data to the recording medium piece 1A in the same manner.

As described above, in the event of writing data without interleaving, there is the need to wait for the program time t.sub.prog to elapse following completing of the data input, before beginning the next input of data. Accordingly, the totaled time of the data input time t.sub.input and the program time t.sub.prog is required for writing one sector, so in the event that six pages of data are to be written without interleaving for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, an amount of time consisting of the time required to write one sector multiplied by six, i.e., Ts (=6.times.(t.sub.input +t.sub.prog)) is required.

On the other hand, with the arrangement described above wherein blocks are selected from each of the recording medium pieces 1A through 1D (C[0] through C[3]), forming a parallel block with these extracted four blocks, to which data is written in an interleaved manner in the order of the recording medium pieces 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D, the No. 1 sector is input to the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]) at time t0, as shown in FIG. 3B, and the input is completed at a time t1 following elapsing of the data input time t.sub.input. Then, the writing of the No. 1 sector for which input has been completed is initiated, and the writing is completed at a time t4' following elapsing of the program time t.sub.prog. This point is the same as the arrangement shown in FIG. 3A.

However, the input of the No. 2 sector to the recording medium piece 1B (C[1]) can be initiated as soon as the input of the No. 1 sector to the recording medium piece 1A is completed, and consequently, the input of the No. 2 sector to the recording medium piece 1B is started at time t1. Subsequently, the input is completed at a time t2 following elapsing of the data input time t.sub.input, and the writing is completed to the recording medium piece 1B following elapsing of the program time t.sub.prog.

In the same way, the input of the No. 3 sector to the recording medium piece 1C (C[2]) can be initiated at the time t2 when the input of the No. 2 sector to the recording medium piece 1B is completed, and further, the input of the No. 4 sector to the recording medium piece 1D (C[3]) can be initiated at the time t3 following elapsing of the data input time t.sub.input from the time t2 when the input of the No. 3 sector is started.

Then, in the event that the program time t.sub.prog is slightly shorter than three times the duration of the data input time t.sub.input, as shown in FIG. 3B, the time t4 which is a time at which the data input time t.sub.input has elapsed from the time t3 at which the input of the No. 4 sector began, i.e., the time t4 at which the input of the No. 4 sector is completed in the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]), is a time occurring after the time t4' at which the writing of the No. 1 sector is completed, so the input of the No. 5 sector to the recording medium piece 1A (C[0]) can be initiated from the time t4 at which the input of the No. 4 sector to the recording medium piece 1D is completed. In the same way, the input of the No. 6 sector to the recording medium piece 1B (C[1]) can be initiated at the time t5 (a time at which the data input time t.sub.input has elapsed from the time t4) when the input of the No. 5 sector to the recording medium piece 1A is completed.

Accordingly, in the case of writing data while interleaving, the amount of wait time owing to the program time t.sub.prog is zero in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and as a result, the writing of 6 pages of data can be conducted within a time Tp (=6.times.t.sub.input +t.sub.prog), which is shorter than the time Ts which is the time required to write the same data without interleaving. That is to say, according to the parallel recording method, even in the event that the program time of the recording medium 1 is relatively long compared to the data input time, the data can be written at high speeds.

The above-described FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the recording medium 1 to which the data is written by the above parallel recording method, and the file management information storing unit 2 and block management information storing unit 3. The data stored thus may be read as follows.

For example, in the event of reading a file F[0], the file management information of the file F[0] can be recognized by making reference to the file management information storing unit 2 (FIG. 2). Then, the physical address of the BAT entry managing the block where the beginning data of the corresponding file is stored, i.e., T[1:0] in the embodiment in FIG. 2, is recognized based on the file management information of the file F[0].

As described above, the BAT entry T[1:0] is for managing the block CB[1:0], but the block management information storing unit 3 stores the physical address T[2:0] of the BAT entry corresponding to the block CB[2:0] as link information in the BAT entry T[1:0] corresponding to the block CB[1:0]. Also, the physical address T[3:0] of the BAT entry corresponding to the block CB[3:0] is stored as link information in the BAT entry T[2:0].

Further, a first flag, next flag, and last flag are respectively stored as status flags to the BAT entries T[1:0], T[2:0], and T[3:0], and based on the above, recognition can be made that the data of the physical file corresponding to the logical file F[0] has been stored in a parallel manner while interleaving to the parallel block comprised of blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0], and CB[3:0], in that order. Once the parallel block and the order by which the data of the physical file has been written to the blocks making up the parallel block have been recognized, the data is read out of the parallel block in an interleaved (de-interleaved) manner in the same order in which it was written. That is, in this case, the data is read out from the lowest page in the first block CB[1:0] making up the parallel block, following which the data is read out from the lowest page in the second block CB[2:0] making up the parallel block, and finally the data is read out from the lowest page in the last block CB[3:0] making up the parallel block. Following the data being read out from the lowest page in the last block CB[3:0] making up the parallel block, the processing returns to the first block CB[1:0] making up the parallel block, where the data is read out from the second lowest page therein, and so on, thereby reading the data in a parallel manner from the blocks making up the parallel block.

Then, at the point that the 12 pages of data which is the file size of the logical file F[0] stored in the file management information has been completely read, i.e., in this case, at the point of completing reading of data from the last page (the fourth page from the bottom) of the last block CB[3:0] making up the parallel block, namely the page CBP[3:0:3], the process is completed, as all data of the logical file F[0] has been read.

In the embodiment described before in connection with FIG. 2, as stated above, the file management information has a file name, file size and a start entry, while the block management information has status flags and link information concerning the corresponding blocks. When making an access to a file, a reference is made to the file management information so that the start entry of the file to be accessed is recognized. Then, a reference is made to the block management information stored in the BAT entry designated by the recognized start entry. Then, the link information contained in the block management information are successively chased, whereby the block recording the data of the file to be accessed is recognized.

Therefore, in order to make access to a file, it is necessary that both the file management information and the block management information are available. Therefore, destruction of the file management information due to, for example, a trouble such as a reduction in the voltage of the power supply to the apparatus makes it difficult to access the data of a file, even if the data of the file and the block management information managing the block storing the data are sound.

More specifically, if the block management information is alive and available, it is not impossible to reproduce the data of the file by assembling pieces of data that have been parallel-recorded. This can be achieved by recognizing the state of linkage between the blocks storing such pieces of data, through chasing the link information contained in the block management information that are alive and valid. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, however, it is impossible to recognize to what file the reproduced data belongs, unless the file management information is available.

In this embodiment, therefore, the file management information or the block management information as shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the file management storing unit 2 or a block management information storing unit 3, for the purpose of managing the data stored in the recording medium 1. The file management information and the block management information as shown in FIG. 4 are intended to manage the recording medium 1 in which the data has been stored in the manner shown in FIG. 1, as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The file management storing unit 2 and the block management information storing unit 3 have the same entry structure, i.e., the number of entries, blocks managed by the BAT entry, etc., as that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Detailed description, therefore, is omitted in regard to the entry structure.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the file management information is constituted solely by the file name F[n]. Meanwhile, the block management information includes: three kinds of status flags: namely, the invalid flag, system flag and the loop flag, among various flags; a file number "n" for enabling identification of the file recorded in the block, the number "n" being the same as the number "n" of the file name F[n]; a sequence number "s" which indicates the logical sequential order of the block under the block management information among the blocks storing the data of the file identified by the file number "n"; and the page length indicative of the size of the data in terms of the number of pages recorded in the block. As shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that one block is composed of four pages.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the file number "n" and the sequential order number "s" are collectively represented as FB[n:s] which will be referred to as "data identification information", hereinafter. It is to be understood that the sequential order number "s" means that the block under the block management information is the one in which the data was recorded in the (s+1)-th time of writing, among the blocks storing data of the file identified by the number "n".

The file management information shown in FIG. 4 therefore permits recognition of the name and the logical sequence of the file stored in the recording medium 1. More specifically, the file management information shown in FIG. 4 indicates that three files identified by F[0], F[1] and F[2] have been recorded in such a logical sequence that F[1]comes first followed by F[2] which in turn is followed by F[0].

On the other hand, the block management information shown in FIG. 4 permits recognition of the status of the block under the block management information, i.e., whether the block is an invalid block, system block or the last one of the blocks constituting the parallel block, the file number "n" identifying the file the data of which has been stored in this block, the sequential order number "s" of the bock, and the page length.

For instance, block management information .left brkt-top.000FB[0:0]4.right brkt-bot. of the BAT entry T[1:0] indicates that the block CB[1:0] under this block management information is not any of an invalid block, system block and the final block of the parallel block. This block information also indicates that the block CB[1:0] is the block which is the one in which the data was written in the first writing time ("s" being zero, so that S+1 is 1) among the blocks that store the data of the file identified by the file number "0", and that the size of the data written in this block CB[1:0] amounts to 4 pages. Thus, all the pages constituting the block CB[1:0] carries data, since the block is composed of four pages.

Likewise, block management information .left brkt-top.001FB[0:2]4.right brkt-bot. of the BAT entry T[3:0] indicates that the block CB[3:0] under this block management information is the final block of the parallel block. This block information also indicates that the block CB[3:0] is the block which is the one in which the data was written in the third writing time ("s" being 2, so that S+1 is 3) among the blocks that store the data of the file identified by the file number "0", and that the size of the data written in this block CB[3:0] amounts to 4 pages.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the block management information of the entry T[0:2] shows that all the flags are 0, and both the file number and the sequence number are invalid (FB[-:-]). The page length also is invalid (-). This means that the block CB[0:2] is an empty block.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the block management information contains the loop flags, file number "n", sequential order number "s" and the page length. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce the original unitary data by assembling parallel-recorded segments of the data and to recognize to what file the reproduced data belongs, even if the file management information is lost, provided that the block management information is sound and available.

It is also possible to form the file name F[n], i.e., to form the file management information, based on the file number "n". It is to be understood, however, the logical sequence of the files stored in the recording medium 1 cannot be recovered, if the file management information is lost. More specifically, although it is possible to recognize that the recording medium stores three files F[0]. F[1] and F[2], it is impossible to recognize that these files have been recorded in the logical sequence of F[1], F[2] and F[0]. In general, however, the logical sequence of the files recorded in the recording medium 1 is not so critical. In addition, if the user remembers the logical sequence, the logical sequence can be recovered simply by changing the entry of the file management information storing unit 2 in which the reproduced file name F[n] as the recovered file management information is to be stored. It is therefore considered that the impossibility of recognition of the logical sequence of the files does not cause any serious problem.

For instance, change of the entry for enabling storage of the file management information can be achieved as follows. It is assumed here that the file names F[0] to F[2] as the file management information have been recognized and stored in the entries M[0] to M[2], respectively, of the file management information storing unit 2. The user can perform an operation such that the file names F[0], F[1] and F[2] are allocated to the entries M[2], M[0] and M[1], respectively, whereby the sequence of the file names F[0] to F[2] are rearranged into the original sequence of F[1], F[2], F[0] in the file management information storing unit 2. The change of the sequence (order) of the file names as the file management: information stored in the file management information storing unit 2 is effected by a recording medium control unit 42 which will be described later in connection with FIG. 10.

The file management information and the block management information shown in FIG. 4 provide the same information as that provided by the file management information and the block management information described before in connection with FIG. 2 and, hence, enables access to the data stored in the recording medium 1, by the same procedure as that described before in connection with FIG. 2.

More specifically, when making access to the data stored in the recording medium 1, a reference is made to the file management information which causes the file names F[1], F[2] and F[0] to be displayed in this order. If the user appoints the file name F[1] as the file which is to be accessed, retrieval is performed to seek for the pieces of block management information which carries the file number "1". The searched pieces of block management information are then rearranged in accordance with the sequential order number "s". At the same time, the parallel block is recognized based on the loop flags, and the file size (amount of data) of the file F[1] is recognized based on the page length. The file F[1] is therefore read from the recording medium 1 based on the information thus obtained.

The combination of the file management information and the block management information of FIG. 4 alone can provide satisfactory management of the data recorded in the recording medium 1.

The above-mentioned combination alone, however, may require computation based on these two kinds of information, in order to obtain information necessary for making access to the data. Consequently, the access to the data may be delayed by the time required for the computation. In addition, the above-mentioned combination alone may impede quick response to demands posed by various applications.

In this embodiment, therefore, file link management information and block link management information are formed as auxiliary information which assist the file management information and the block management information, respectively. Thus, a file is managed by a combination of the file management information and the file link management information, while a block is managed by a combination of the block management information and the block link management information.

FIG. 5 shows, by way of example, the structures of a file link management information storing unit 4 and a block link management information storing unit 5 which store the file link management information and the block link management information, respectively, when the data has been stored in the manner shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 also shows the file management information storing unit 2 and the block management information storing unit 3 which are shown in FIG. 4.

The file link management information storing unit 4 has the same number of entries as that of the file management information storing unit 2. Each entry stores file link management information which serves as an auxiliary information assisting the file management information stored in the corresponding entry of the file management information storing unit 2.

In this case, the file link management information includes the size of the file identified by the corresponding file management information, i.e., the file name, and a pointer (start entry and end entry) for making access to the BAT entry which stores block management information in the block management storing unit 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, the file size is expressed by the number of pages, i.e., the number of sectors, as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The pointer to the BAT entry is constituted by a start entry and an end entry. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the start entry is the BAT entry that stores the block management information which manages the leading end (initial) block of the block sequence storing the file, while the end entry is the BAT entry which stores the block management information for managing the trailing end (last) block of the block sequence which stores the file.

For instance, the file F[0] whose file management information is stored in the entry M[2] of the file management information storing unit 2 has the file link management information .left brkt-top.12T[1:0]T[3:0].right brkt-bot. from which it is understood that the fixe size amounts to 12 pages. Further, the leading end block and the trailing end block of the block sequence storing the file F[0] in the recording medium are managed by the block management information stored in the BAT entry T[1:0] and the block management information stored in the BAT entry T[3:0]. It is therefore understood that the blocks CB[1:0] and CB[3:0] are the leading end block and the trailing end block of the bock sequence that stores the file F[0].

Meanwhile, the block link management information storing unit 5 has the same number of entries as the block management information storing unit 3. Each entry of the block link management information storing unit 5 (this entry is also referred to as "BAT entry", for the sake of convenience in the explanation) stores bock link management information which serves as auxiliary information assisting the block management information stored in the corresponding entry of the block management information storing unit 3.

The block management information includes an I number (Interleave Block Number) concerning the block managed by the corresponding block management information and link information (forward entry and rewind entry).

The I number constitutes information concerning the parallel block which includes the block as the component block. An expression "a/b" indicates that the parallel block is composed of (b+1) blocks and the block designated by the I number is the (a+1)-th block among the blocks constituting the parallel block. The factor "a" will be referred to also as an "block sequential number in parallel block". Similarly, the factor "b" will be referred to also as a "number of component blocks".

The link information is constituted by the forward entry and the rewind entry. The forward entry indicates the state of the forward linkage of the blocks storing data of the same file, as in the case of the link information (next entry) explained before in connection with FIG. 2. Thus, the forward entry designates the BAT entry which stores the block management information (and block link management information) managing the block next to the block carrying the link information in the block sequence storing the file. In contrast, the rewind entry indicates the state of the backward linkage of the blocks storing data of the same file. Thus, the backward entry designates the BAT entry which stores the block management information (and block link management information) managing the block immediately preceding the block carrying the link information in the block sequence. In FIG. 5, the forward entry and the rewind entry are expressed by a "+" and "-" signs, respectively, attached to the physical address of the BAT entry T[c:b]. Thus, the forward and rewind entries are expressed as +T[c:b] and -T[c:b], respectively.

The following states of linkage can be recognized from the block link management information.

For instance, the forward entry of the entry T[1:0] is +[2:0] and the forward entry of T[2:0] is +T[3:0]. This means that the blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0]and CB[3:0] are linked in this order. This sequence is confirmed also from the fact that the rewind entry of the entry T[3:0] is -T[2:0], and the entry of T[2:0] is -T[1:0].

The rewind entry of the entry T[1:0] and the forward entry of the entry T[3:0] are invalid (-T[-:-], +T[-:-]. This means that no block precedes the block CB[1:0] and no block follows the blocks CB[3:0]. it is therefore understood that the data of a single file is recorded in a parallel manner in and over three blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0]and CB[3:0]. As described before, it is understood from the file management information and the file link management information that the leading end block and the trailing end block of the block sequence storing the file F[0] are the blocks CB[1:0] and the block CB[3:0]. It is therefore recognized that the single file recorded in the three blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0]and CB[3:0] is the file F[0].

The blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0]and CB[3:0] storing the data of the file F[0] are linked forwardly in the mentioned order. The loop flag is set high in the block management information managing the block CB[3:0] among these three blocks (block management information of the entry T[3:0]). This means that these three blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0]and CB[3:0] form a parallel block.

The I numbers of the three blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0]and CB[3:0], i.e., the I numbers of the block link management information stored in the entries T[1:0], T[2:0] and T[3:0], are 0/2, 1/2 and 2/2, respectively. This means that the blocks CB[1:0], CB[2:0]and CB[3:0] are the first, second and third blocks of the parallel block constituted by three blocks.

In this embodiment, the block link management information includes not only the forward entry but also the rewind entry. This permits easy recognition of the state of linkage of the blocks in the backward direction, as well as the linkage in the forward direction. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, since the rewind entry is not managed, recognition of linkage of a block in the backward direction may necessitate, in the worst case, the retrieval block management information on all the blocks. In contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 permits the recognition of the backward linkage, simply by making reference to the rewind entry contained in the block link management information.

Thus, the block which is linked to a block forwardly and the block linked to the same block backwardly can easily be recognized, enabling efficient control of special reproducing operations such as fast reproduction and rewinding or backward reproduction.

As stated above, the file link management information contains both the start entry and the end entry, permitting easy recognition of the leading end block and the trailing end block of the file. Consequently, efficient control of special reproducing operations such as the fast reproduction and backward reproduction can achieved also in regard to the inter-file transition.

The file size contained in the file link management information and the I number contained in the block link information permits, by themselves or with the assist of other necessary information, an easy computation of the temporal position, i.e., the position information, of the file data.

For instance, it is assumed here that the files stored in the recording medium 1 are sequentially reproduced in accordance with the logical sequential order indicated by the file management information. In such a case, the time at which the leading end of a file is to be reproduced, i.e., the file reproduction start time, can be computed based on the file size contained in the file link management information.

More specifically, the file reproduction start time of the file F[1] is 0, because the logical sequential order of this file is the "first".

As to the file F[2], this file is logically preceded by the first file F[1] the size of which is 23 pages. Therefore, the file reproduction start time for the file F[2] which is to be reproduced subsequent to the file F[1] is computed as being 23 T.sub.0, where T.sub.0 represents the time required for reproducing one page.

As to the file F[3], this file is logically preceded by the first file F[2] the size of which is 13 pages and which in turn is preceded by the file F[1] the size of which is 23 pages. Therefore, the file reproduction start time for the file F[3] which is to be reproduced subsequent to the file F[1] is computed as being 36 T.sub.0 which is the sum of 13T.sub.0 and 23T.sub.0.

The time at which the reproduction of a parallel block recording the data of a file (referred to also as "intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time"), relative to the starting end of the file, can be determined by computing (s--a), based on the data identification information FB(n:s] contained in the block management information and the I number (block sequential number "a" in parallel block and number "b" of component blocks) contained in the block link management information.

For instance, the intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time for the parallel block having the block CB[1:0] equals to the time required for reproducing data of 4 blocks (=4-0), since the data identification information of the BAT entry T[1:2] managing the block CB[1:2] is F[1:4] and the I number of the same is 0/1. Namely, since one block is composed of 4 pages in this embodiment, the intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time of the parallel block having the block CB[1:2] is determined as 16T.sub.0 which equals to 4.times.4T.sub.0.

Likewise, the intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time for the parallel block having the block CB[2:0] equals to the time required for reproducing data of 0 block (=1-1), since the data identification information of the BAT entry T[2:0] managing the block CB[2:0] is F[0:1] and the I number of the same is 1/2. Thus, the intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time of the parallel block having the block CB[2:0] is determined as 0 (0.times.4T.sub.0).

The time at which the reproduction is started on a page storing data of a file, relative to the time of start of reproduction of the leading end of the parallel block having the block containing this page (referred to also as "intra-parallel-block page reproduction start time), can be determined based on the I number (block sequential number "a" in parallel block and the number "b" of component blocks) of the block link management information which manages the block containing the page of interest. More specifically, the intra-parallel-block page reproduction start time for the (p+1)-th page as counted from the last of the block, can be determined by computing {(b+1).times.p+a}.

For instance, the intra-parallel-block page reproduction start time for the third page from the lowest of the block CB[1:2], i.e., the page CBP[1:2:2], is determined to be 4T.sub.0, i.e., the time required for reproducing 4 pages ((1+1).times.2+0=4), because the I number in the block link management information of the BAT entry T[1:2] managing the block CB[1:2] is 0/1 (a=0, b=1).

Similarly, the intra-parallel-block page reproduction start time for the lowest page of the block CB[2:0], i.e., the page CBP[2:0:0], is determined to be T.sub.0, i.e., the time required for reproducing 1 pages ((2+1).times.0+1=1), because the I number in the block link management information of the BAT entry T[2:0] managing the block CB[2:0] is 1/2 (a=1, b=2).

It is also possible to determine the time at which reproduction of a page recording data of a file, relative to the time of start of reproduction of the leading end of the file (referred to also as "intra-file page reproduction start time"), can be determined by computing the sum of the above-mentioned intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time and the intra-parallel-block page reproduction start time.

For instance, since the intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time for the parallel block having the block CB[1:2] is 16T.sub.0 and the intra-parallel-block page reproduction start time of the third page CBP[1:2:2] from the lowest of the block CB[1:2] is 4T.sub.0, the intra-file page reproduction start time for the page CBP[1:2:2] can be determined as being 20 T.sub.0 (16T.sub.0 to 4T.sub.0 -20T.sub.0).

The page CBP[1:2:2] stores the data FS[1:20], i.e., data of the sector number 20 of the file carrying the file number 1 (see FIG. 1). Thus, the multiplication factor 20 of the intra-file page reproduction start time 20T.sub.0 of the page CBP[1:2:2] coincides with the sector number 20 of the data FS[1:20] recorded in this page CBP[1:2:2].

As stated above, the intra-file parallel-block reproduction start time for the parallel block having the block CB[2:0] is 0 and the intra-parallel-block page reproduction start time for the lowest page CBP[2:0:0] of this block CB[2:0] is T.sub.0. Therefore, the intra-file page reproduction start time for the page CBP[2:0:0] is the sum of 0 and T.sub.0, i.e., T.sub.0.

The page CBP[2:0:0] stores the data FS[0:1], i.e., data of the sector number 1 of the file carrying the file number 0 (see FIG. 1). As stated above, the multiplication factor 1 of the intra-file page reproduction start time T.sub.0 of the page CBP[2:0:0] coincides with the sector number 1 of the data FS[0:1] recorded in this page CBP[2:0:0].

When files stored in the recording medium are sequentially reproduced in accordance with the logical sequence indicated by the file management information, the time at which reproduction of a page of a certain file is started (referred to as "page reproduction start time") is determined as the sum of the file reproduction start time and the intra-file page reproduction start time of the page.

For instance, the page CBP[1:2:2] contains the data of the file identified by the file number 1, i.e., F[1], and the file reproduction start time of this file is 0 as stated before. The intra-file page reproduction start time of the page CBP[1:2:2] is 20T.sub.0, as explained before. Therefore, the page reproduction start time for the page CBP[1:2:2] is 20T.sub.0 which is the sum of 0 and 20T.sub.0.

Similarly, the page CBP [2:0:0] contains the data of the file identified by the file number 0, i.e., F[0], and the file reproduction start time of this file is 36T.sub.0 as stated before. The intra-file page reproduction start time of the page CBP[2:0:0] is T.sub.0, as explained before. Therefore, the page reproduction start time for the page CBP[2:0:0] is 36T.sub.0 which is the sum of 36T.sub.0 and T.sub.0.

In the parallel recording method which is being described, assuming that writing of data is once finished on a page of a certain block of the parallel block, additional writing on the same page is conducted only after writing is finished on all other blocks of the same parallel block. Therefore, the time interval between the moment at which writing is once over on a page of a block of interest and the moment at which additional writing is conducted on the page of the same block of interest (this interval will be referred to as "page interval time") varies according to the number of the bocks constituting the parallel block. This page interval time can be determined by computing (b+1), based on the I number (block sequential number "a" in parallel block and number "b" of component blocks) of the block of interest.

For instance, the page interval time of the block CB[1:2] is 2T.sub.0 which amounts to reproduction of 2 pages (1+1=2), since the I number of this bock is 0/1. Similarly, the page interval time of the block CB[2:0] is 3T.sub.0, which amounts to reproduction of 3 pages (2+1=3), since the I number of this bock is 1/2.

It is thus possible to easily compute the temporal position of file data on page basis, by using information such as the I number contained in the block link management information. This permits presentation to the user of the time at which data reproduction is to be commenced, relative to various time reference. In addition, the user is enabled to appoint the reproduction start time so that the reproduction is started beginning from the data corresponding to the appointed reproduction start time. It is thus possible to easily perform random access and special reproduction such as fast reproduction, by appointing the reproduction start time. Consequently, the apparatus can be more conveniently and efficiently used for the purpose of, for example, edition of the files.

The file link management information and the block link management information need not be constantly held and stored, because they can be formed based on the block management information as will be described later.

Next, FIG. 6 illustrates an external configuration example of a first embodiment of a user terminal (recording/reproducing apparatus) which performs reading and writing of data according to a parallel recording method such as described above.

In this embodiment, an operating unit 11 comprised of buttons and the like operated at the time of providing the device with various types of input, and a frontal display unit 12 of a liquid crystal panel or the like for example, for displaying various types of information, such as text or images. That is, the user terminal has a recording medium 1 (not shown in FIG. 6) built in, and is arranged such that operating the operating unit 11 reads out the data recorded in the recording medium 1, and in the event that that data is text or image data, this data